... Okay. After a moment's pause to gather her thoughts she begins, "It started after the mage rebellion voted to leave the Chantry. Mages fled Circles, and Templars tried to force them back into the towers. I know they've tried a conclave before and it didn't go so well."

Understatement, but; he knows all of this.

Abby's arms fold succinctly across her chest; she adds, "I don't blame the mages for wanting to get out, but I'm a Rifter and I know exactly where I'm headed if the proposal goes through. I don't want to go into a Circle. Wanna be under the Chantry's thumb even less." Shrug, "That's why I was already going to Cumberland."